THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Steel Pig Barbecue Restaurant Review

: The Steel Pig is named for a surprise sculpture that once appeared in a Seattle neighborhood. The pig cooked here, however, won’t require you to steel yourself; it goes down easy. Ribs with a “medium” sauce could use a smidge more vinegar, but carry sufficient kick. Fried catfish comes in a crisp cornmeal crust which keeps the fish inside moist, just right with its tartar. Chicken, dotted with tiny peppers and served in a kicky sauce, is a surprise delight. Sides are topnotch: cornbread, greens, beans and rice and mac ‘n’ cheese all satisfy and could make a standalone meal for vegetarians. Mixed drinks and beer complement the barbecue and Southern fare, and the barbecue-averse have their choice of pub grub---all of which leads to the restaurant’s only downside: The Steel Pig is more of a bar that happens to serve food than a restaurant that happens to have a bar. Big-screen TVs, pub games, and dancing and entertainment that kick in late-night all elicit a roadside tavern environment. That said, we wouldn’t expect white tablecloths with our barbecue. The Pig is a laid-back place to kick back with a cocktail and the right fixings.